New Season of "Railroad Alaska" Starts October 25th.

Just my opinion but, I thought the first program was an insult to ones intelligence, and I couldn't even get through the first one. I'm really surprised the show was picked up again.

I love this show. It combines two of my favorite things, trains and Alaska. Eight stars of gold on a field of blue.

 

If you watch it for nothing else but the beautiful scenery, it is well worth the time. Personally, I like Animal and his sidekick. I'm with you, glad the show is coming back. 

What specifically did you find insulting?

Anyone who has actually worked for a railroad will not enjoy this show. This show is cast in the same mold as Ice Road Truckers, where nothing interesting ever happens but we try to make it SEEM like something dangerous will happen with all kinds of artificially contrived "drama" and other nonsense. And of course, nothing ever happens. I gave up on IRT several years ago.

 

I get very tired of the constant, "If <insert the current dramatic situation here> doesn't happen, we're all going to die!" and other such drivel.

 

I'll pass.

I agree with the fact that the show is artificial, in a sense.  However, as sad as it may be, if you are not interested in artificially contrived "drama" and other nonsense, then you need to throw your TV out the window because those types of shows are the only things on TV these days.  The scenery is beautiful and the show has some interesting "characters".  Plus, the show really makes me want to buy a ARR SD70MAC.  We will see about that.  lol

Let me throw in my two sense. While these shows are scripted, the dangers they face a lot of the time are not. What makes these Alaska shows so popular is the danger factor. And the danger is real. Problems that are no big deal in the lower 48 states become deadly because of the wild and remote properties of "The Last Frontier". I was a member of a search and rescue team in Alaska, with a 500 square mile territory. Just accessing victims can be long, difficult, and dangerous. Hospitals can be hundreds of miles away And the closest Trauma 1 (the highest level of emergent trauma care) Hospital is Seattle. For some Alaskans that is almost 2,000 miles. Most of Alaska has no cell phone service and in the mountains radio contact and gps are almost completely ineffective.

 

Here's my  list of Alaska shows that I feel are pretty accurate. Especially when it comes to the people and "reality" portrayed.

 

-Flying Wild Alaska

-Alaska State Troopers

-Railroad Alaska

 

The crew of Gold Rush Alaska walked into their local police station and tried to get the officers to help them stage a fight for the show. I often worked in the same town that the show takes place in and heard an earful about their "drama" from the local police.

 

 

 

 

 

I finally remembered Animal's sidekick's name, Donny.

 

Despite it being staged for TV, I like the series.

Why in fiddlesticks can't someone make a decent documentary show about modern railroading?

 

 

Probably because the "young producers" are not really interested in factual programs, only stuff that will attract the "under 35 crowd". Fast based, short scenes with quick camera shots, zooming in and out, and lots of suspense.

 

It's not what they're interested in. It's what PAYS.

 

You've got more and more and more channels of TV every year competing for the eyes of fewer and fewer viewers (lost to online streaming hulu/netflix/youtube/etc.). Literally nobody would watch a serious documentary.

 

Right now the "reality" format is what's selling. It gets people watching your channel, so that's what you make.

 

I'll probably watch the show - shake my head & laugh at the "drama"  Not interested in the off grid sections either.  There's another show for that - don't watch it either.  There's more to the ARR than that route & more employees than "animal" & Danny.  I understand why they don't want to be seen on the show.

 

The oil companies up here in Alaska are about to start a major pipeline project up here.  The ARR will be busy hauling pipe & the trucking companies will be bust driving the pipe up the Haul Road.  Gave up on IRT - so did Carlile Trucking.  Looks like they moved to the show to Canada along with a few American drivers.

Since I DVR the few "reality" shows I watch, I can skip/fast-forward through the drama and other bits of no interest.  I watch this show for the scenery (w/ trains) more than anything else.

 

Andy

Right you are Rich. My son is a Televison producer,  has done dozens of "reality" shows on the Travel Channel, FYI, MTV, DYI and A & E channels and they are ALL scripted. Reality TV thrives on creating situations of conflict, mystery and danger. Show participants are in many cases told exactly what to do, what to say and even fight. They must build interest, suspense and create a story when there is none.

Reality TV shows are pure fiction and ENTERTAINMENT but like a movie I do find some of them interesting.

Now I have a ridiculous question... since the RR runs a lot in the wild and sometimes animals seem to get caught off guard when a train shows up, why doesn't the RR go to town and buy a bunch of those passive high frequency deer/animal warning horns they otherwise sell for cars and trucks? I live in western Nj and they seem to work for me. Its not just deer but dogs, squirrel, rabbits, chipmonks, cats etc.
Although diesels seem to be  loud, on the main at speed many times one doesn't hear the train until it's on top of you since the sound is behind loco.